Net assembly for pool skimmer

ABSTRACT

A removable skimmer net assembly that securely sits within the mouth of any conventional pool skimmer to passively collect floating debris from the surface of the water. The skimmer net assembly includes a removable pool net and a skimmer mount having a telescoping column and a T-shaped net orientation connector. The telescoping column secures the mount within the mouth of the pool skimmer in either a vertical or horizontal orientation. The net orientation connector allows the removable net to be properly positioned within the pool regardless of the orientation of the telescoping column or the style of skimmer. The removable pool net is connected to the skimmer mount by a dove-tail joint that allows the net to be easily disconnected from the mount for cleaning or when the pool is in use.

This invention relates to an apparatus for removing floating debris from swimming pools, and in particular, a net attachment assembly mountable in the mouth of a pool skimmer.

BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Floating debris, such as leaves, twigs, grass and other bits of foliage, as well as insects and other vermin, is a common nuisance for swimming pools. Floating debris detracts from the aesthetic value and use of the pool and is problematic for the operation of the circulation and filtering systems of the pool. A number of devices and tools have been developed to collect and remove floating debris from the surface water of swimming pools, ranging from a manually used net affixed at the end of a pole to nets that mount to the sides of the pool and passively collect floating debris. Pool skimmers, which generally form part of the water filtration and circulation system of the pool, often have screens that filter floating debris, but these screens are actually designed more to protect the pump from clogging as a result of a buildup of debris than for providing an efficient means for cleaning the pool water.

The present invention provides a removable skimmer net assembly that securely sits within the mouth of any conventional pool skimmer to passively collect floating debris from the surface of the water. The skimmer net assembly includes a removable pool net and a skimmer mount, which has a telescoping column and a T-shaped net orientation connector. The telescoping column secures the mount within the mouth of the pool skimmer in either a vertical or horizontal orientation. The net orientation connector allows the removable net to be properly positioned within the pool skimmer mouth regardless of the orientation of the telescoping column or the style of skimmer. The removable pool net is connected to the skimmer mount by a dove-tail joint that allows the net to be easily disconnected from the mount for cleaning or when the pool is in use.

The above described features and advantages, as well as others, will become more readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art by reference to the following detailed description and accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention may take form in various system and method components and arrangement of system and method components. The drawings are only for purposes of illustrating exemplary embodiments and are not to be construed as limiting the invention. The drawings illustrate the present invention, in which:

FIG. 1 is perspective view of an embodiment of the skimmer net assembly of this invention shown with the pool net disconnected from the skimmer mount;

FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the skimmer mount of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a side view of the skimmer mount of FIG. 1 in the parallel position with portions cut away;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the skimmer net assembly of FIG. 1 in the parallel position fitted within the mouth of a conventional pool skimmer;

FIG. 5 is a partial side view of the skimmer mount being positioned within the mouth of a conventional pool skimmer;

FIG. 6 is a partial side view of the skimmer mount being fitted into the mouth of a conventional pool skimmer in the parallel position;

FIG. 7 is a partial side view of the pool net seated on the skimmer mount fitted into the mouth of a conventional pool skimmer in the parallel position; and

FIG. 8 is a partial side view of the pool net seated on the skimmer mount fitted into the mouth of a conventional pool skimmer in the perpendicular position.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring now to the drawings, FIGS. 1-8 illustrate an embodiment of the removable skimmer net assembly of this invention, which is designated generally as reference numeral 10. As shown, skimmer net assembly 10 is designed to sit within the mouth of any conventional pool skimmer and collect floating debris from the surface of the water. Skimmer net assembly 10 includes a removable pool net 20 and a skimmer mount 30. Pool net 20 includes a mesh net 22 and a rectangular peripheral frame 24, which supports the open mouth 21 of the net. Mesh net 22 is constructed from a fine mesh nylon fabric and fashioned into a configuration similar to a butterfly net, which allows water to pass through, but captures small debris, leaves, sticks and insects. Net frame 22 is generally constructed of a reinforced polymer plastic or other suitable material for use in pool water. Net frame 24 includes a handle 26 formed along its top and an integral male dove-tailed flange 28 formed along one side adjacent handle 26.

Like the net frame 24, skimmer mount 30 is constructed of a polymer plastic or other suitable material for use in pool water. Skimmer mount 30 includes an extensible telescoping column 40 and a T-shaped net orientation connector 50. Column 40 includes a center member 42 and a pair of extensible end members 44. Column 40 allows skimmer mount 30 to be securely fitted into the mouth of any conventional skimmer. Center member 42 has generally cylindrical body with opposed threaded male ends 43. An integral abutment arm 41 extends perpendicularly from center member 42. Center member 42 has a pair of square notches 47 formed on opposed sides thereof and a lateral through bore 49 that extends between the square notches 47. It should be noted that abutment arm 41 extends at an offset angle with respect to bore 49, i.e., generally 3-10 degrees offset from perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of bore 49. Each end member 44 has generally tubular bodies. The inner wall 45 of each end member 44 is threaded to receive threaded male ends 43 of center member 42. Column 40 also includes a pair of locking nuts 48 that can be turned about threaded male ends 43 to abut against end members 44 thereby locking the end members in place. Pliable end cap 48 covers the open end of each end member 44 and assists in providing the holding force to secure skimmer mount 20 within the mouth of a pool skimmer.

Net orientation connector 50 has mounting sleeve 52 and an integral shaft 54. Mounting sleeve 52 has a longitudinal female dove-tailed slot 53 formed therein for receiving the male dove-tailed flange 26 of net frame 22. Shaft 54 extends perpendicularly from a square shoulder 56 that protrudes from the back of sleeve 52 and a has a threaded distal end 58. Net orientation connector 50 is connected to telescoping column 40 selectively in either a parallel position (FIGS. 4 and 7) or a perpendicular position (FIG. 8). When connected to telescoping column 40, shaft 54 extends through bore 49 and is secured by a wing nut 60 and held in place by shoulder 56 and a square spacer block 62 that seat within notches 47.

FIGS. 4-8 illustrate how skimmer net assembly 10 is mounted in the mouth 3 of a conventional pool skimmer. As shown, skimmer mount 30 is positioned within skimmer mouth 3 and end members 44 are manually rotated to extend outward from center member 42 to abut either the sidewalls or the top and bottom walls of the skimmer mouth 2. Typically, the end members are extended so that the water line 9 of the pool is above shaft 54 of the net orientation connector 50. In addition, skimmer mount 30 is generally positioned within skimmer mouth 3, such that abutment arm 41 contacts a sidewall of the skimmer in the parallel position to prevent the skimmer mount and pool net 20 from pivoting or twisting against the water current within the pool as shown in FIG. 4. In the perpendicular position (FIG. 8), skimmer mount is positioned so that abutment arm 41 contacts either the top wall or the bottom wall of the skimmer to prevent the skimmer mount and the pool net from pivoting or twisting. Once skimmer mount 30 is seated within skimmer mouth 2, pool net 20 is connected by sliding flange 28 into sleeve slot 53. When attached, floating debris collects in pool net 20, which extends from the skimmer mouth into the pool. As shown in FIG. 4, the lower half of pool net 20 is submersed below the water line 9. Pool net 20 can be manually removed from skimmer mount 30 to clean and remove debris from the net or when the pool is in use.

As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8 respectively, net orientation connector 50 can be connected to column 40 in a perpendicular position where sleeve 54 is perpendicular to the column or a parallel position where the sleeve is parallel to the column. Skimmer mount 30 can be adapted for use in skimmers with both standard square mouths or rectangular wide mouths, by simply changing how net orientation connector 50 is connected to column 40 and adjusting telescoping end members 44.

One skilled in the art will note that the skimmer net assembly of this invention provides a passive collection mechanism for floating debris on the surface of a swimming pool. The skimmer mount is easily installed onto the mouth of the skimmer without tools or modification of the skimmer mouth. The extensible or telescoping action of the skimmer mount allows the assembly to be used in any style or brand of skimmer and can be used in both square faced and wide mouth skimmer profiles. The locking nuts and end caps ensure that the skimmer mount is securely seated in the skimmer mouth. The removable pool net can be removed for cleaning out the collected debris or when the pool is in use. The sliding dove tail joint allows the removable pool net to be manually inserted onto and pulled from the skimmer mount. The pool net is also sized and shaped to collect a large volume of floating debris, including leaves, sticks and insects before needing to be emptied.

The skimmer net assembly helps remove floating debris, particularly smaller debris and insects, before it enters the pool skimmer filter, which prolongs the life of the skimmer's filter element and reduces the frequency of backwashing of the filter system to remove collected small debris. Capturing such small debris prior to its entrance into the skimmer lessen the strain on the pool filter pump due to the filter element being cleaner thus allowing the pump to work more efficiently and lessen the time the pump may run at higher pressure rates due to small debris collection in the main filter element.

The embodiment of the present invention herein described and illustrated is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed. It is presented to explain the invention so that others skilled in the art might utilize its teachings. The embodiment of the present invention may be modified within the scope of the following claims. 

We claim:
 1. A pool net assembly for removing floating debris from the surface of water in a pool having a skimmer where the skimmer has a open skimmer mouth defined by a top wall, bottom wall and two side walls, the assembly comprising: a skimmer mount; and a removable pool net detachably connected to the skimmer mount, the skimmer mount includes a telescoping column adapted to restrictively seat within the open mouth of the skimmer in a first orientation where the column extends axially between the sidewalls of the mouth and a second orientation where the column extends axially between the top wall and the bottom wall of the skimmer mouth, and a net orientation connector selectively mounted to the telescoping column in a first position when the telescoping column is in its first orientation and a second position when the telescoping column is in its second orientation.
 2. The pool net assembly of claim 1 wherein the pool net includes a net frame and a net body connected to the net frame, the net frame having an opening therein defining a mouth of the pool net.
 3. The pool net assembly of claim 2 wherein the net frame includes one of a male connector part and a female connector part, the net orientation connector includes one of a female connector part adapted to receive the male connector part of the net frame and a male connector part adapted to insert into the female connector part of the net frame.
 4. The pool net assembly of claim 3 wherein the male connector part of the net frame and the female connector part of the net orientation connector, and the female connector part of the net frame and the male connector part of the net orientation connector each form a dove-tail joint.
 5. The pool net assembly of claim 1 wherein the telescoping column includes a center member and a pair of opposed end members extensibly mounted to the center member.
 6. The pool net assembly of claim 5 wherein the net orientation connector is selectably mounted to the center member.
 7. The pool net assembly of claim 1 wherein the telescoping column includes an integral arm extending therefrom, the arm contacting the skimmer when the skimmer mount is seated within the skimmer mouth to prevent movement of the pool net. 